Water-meter.



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f/ C 721mm Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

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WATER METER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1912.

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\ lily/ 111 H. c. TURNER & G. W. HAMM.

H. G. TURNER & G. W. HAMM.

WATER METER.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1912.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-BHIIET Z.

elttouna 5 G. W Hay/1m- C Dryer COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WA$HIN(ITON. n,c.

HENRY C. TURNER AND GEORGEW. HAMM, 0F REPRESA, CALIFORNIA.

WATER-METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 6, 1912.

' atented Sept. 2, 1913. Serial No. 718,988.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, HENRY C. TURNER andGnonon WV. HAMM, citizens of the United States, residing at Reprcsa, inthe county of Sacramento, State of California, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in \Vater-Metcrs; and we do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in watermeters, and has particular application to a meter equipped with meanswhereby the water supply flowing through the meter to the consumers linemay be cut off in case the meter becomes clogged or deranged to such anextent that it ceases to record the flow therethrough.

Furthermore our invention is designed to prevent hot water working backthrough the consumers pipe to the meter and thereby ruining the rotor orturbine which, as is well known, is usually constructed of fiber, and isrendered useless when subjected to the action of. the water at atemperature above 160 F.

Still a further purpose of our invention is the provision of a meter ofthe character referred to in which the mechanism for controlling theflow from the meter to the consumers line is entirely automatic in itsoperation.

e further aim to provide a water meter which will embody in itsconstruction the desired features of simplicity and durability coupledwith positiveness and efficiency in operation.

With the above recited objects and others of a similar nature in viewour invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts set forth in and falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate likeparts in all the views, and Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of ameter apparatus embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view withour improved valve mechanism and the by-pass of the meter shown insection. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken through the valve onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detail sectional view of the drainfied form of meter casing wherein the bypass .is located exterior ofsuch casing. Fig. 7 1s a new through the meter casing showing theby-pass in cross section.

In water meters of the type to which our invention is particularlyapplicable, two

disadvantages are incident. First, should the meter become clogged orderanged, and thereby cease recording,

it still permits a reduced quantity of water to pass through into theconsumers line, although at a low pressure, this water not beingrecorded by the meter although it may continue to flow to the consumersline for a considerable period without the companys knowledge and to itsconsequent loss. Secondly, in case hot water should [low back throughthe consumers line into the meter as may occur in case of the buildingtaking fire, the rotor or turbine is liable to be seriously injured ordestroyed. Both such disadvantages are avoided by the employment of ourinven tion.

In passing through the meter, water loses from ten to fifteen poundspressure, and for the purpose of illustrating the operation ofourinvention we will hereafter consider the pressure on the main atfifty pounds per square inch and the pressure on the consumers line maythen be assumed to be from thirty-five to forty poundshence theemployment of the terms high pressure and low pressure in thisdescription.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail the letter Aindicates a meter of the rotor or turbine type having the usual recorderIt. Leading to the meter casing is a water main 1 through which thewater enters the meter at high pressure, while 2 indicates the consumerspipe or line through which the water passes from the meter at lowpressure. Intcrposcd between the meter and the consumers line andcommunicating with both is our improved valve indicated as an entiretyby the letter V.

. In Fig. 1 the meter by-pass 3 leads through the casing from the mainto the valve body, while in Fig. 6 it is shown located out side themeter casing. The valve casing in this structure shown herein is ofapproximately cross-like form, that is to say, has the four members 4,5, 6 and 7. The member t is flanged at 8 and connected to the metercasing while the opposite member 6 is threaded at 9 into the consumerspipe or line 2 so that a direct passage 10 for the metered water extendsbetween the meter and the consumers line. The bores of the verticaltubular arms 5 and 7 of the valve body form chambers 11 and 12respectively, which communicate with the passage 10. The by-pass 3communicates with the lower chamber 12 at the point 13 and is controlledby a drain cock 1 1 having the angular port 15, said drain cock alsocontrolling the drain out-let 16 for a purpose hereinafter de scribed.Movable within the vertical chambers 11 and 12 is the double headedvalve 17,

the upper head 18 moving in the chamber 11, while the lower head 19moves in the chamber 12. V

The numeral 20 indicates a by-pass or channel angular in form andestablishing communication between the passage 10 and the chamber 11, sothat the pressure of the metered water bearing upon the top of the valvehead 18 will, when supplemented by the action of the spring 21,counter-balance the pressure of water flowing from the bypass into thelower chamber 12 so that the valve V will remain open, when the meter isworking properly, and will occupy the position shown in Fig. 2permitting the water to flow through the meter to the consumers line andthe flow of that water will also be properly recorded. Now should themeter become clogged or deranged to such an extent that it ceases torecord, it may still permit water to seep or flow therethrough at areduced pressure to the consumers line. If all the taps of faucets inthe building be closed the pressure on the consumers line still remainsat 40 pounds, but as soon as a tap or faucet is opened the pressure willdrop to say five pounds. This will release the pressure on the upperhead of the piston and allow the high pressure of fifty pounds on thelower head to force the piston valve upward in the casing until thelower head obstructs the passage 10, shutting ofi the consumers serviceuntil the company is notified and the meter repaired. After the meterhas been repaired the service is restored by breaking the seal 22 of thedrain cock and giving the handle or arm 23 of the drain cook 14 aquarter turn so that the angular port 15 thereof will communicate withthe drain outlet 16, thereby allowing the water in the lower chamber toescape through the drain as the pressure of the spring 21 forces thepiston valve down to its usual position. The drain cock is then reopenedand rescaled and'the service restored.

By the use of our invention it is absolutely impossible for water toback into the meter, as for instance in the event the main is beingrepalred, or there is an excessive demand upon the supply, such as mightbe caused by fire apparatus pumping for a fire in the vicinity. Ineither event the absence of pressure on the lower end of the pistonvalve will allow the greater pressure to be exerted on the upper surfaceof such piston valve and cause the latterto be forced downwardly in itscasing until the upper head 18 obstructs the passage 10.

It will remain in this position until the pressure in the main isrestored and the valve forced to its normal open position.

In Fig. 6 we have illustrated a slight modified form of the invention,in this structure the bypass comprising a pipe 24: leading outside themeter from the main to the valve casing and having the drain cocklocated at the coupling 25 of such by-pass.

While we have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves toall the precise details of construction herein illustrated anddescribed, as modification and variation may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the inventionor exceeding the scope of the appendedclaims.

WVha-t we claim is 1. The combination with a water meter having a highpressure main leading thereto and a low pressure line leading therefrom,

of a valve casing in the low pressure line, a plston valve movable 1nthe casmg, said casing having a passage or channel leading to one sideof the piston, a bypass leading from the high pressure main to oneend'ofthe piston valve, ment on the other end of the piston valve, and a valvecontrolled drain .port' in the valve casing for the by-pass.

2. The combination with a water meter,v

of a high pressure main leading theretoand a low pressure line leadingtherefrom,of a valve casing in the low pressure line formed with a highpressure chamber and a low pressure chamber and having a passage eX-tending between the meter and the low pres-' sure line, a double pistonvalve controlling the passage and having head portions mov ing. in thepressure chambers, a channel eX- tending from the low pressure chamberto the passage 1n the valve casing, a bypass connecting the highpressure main withthe high pressure chamber, a pressure equalizingspring in the low pressure chamber, and a valve controlled drain portfor relieving the pressure in thehigh pressure chamber.

8. The combination with a water meter, of a high pressure main leadingthereto, and a low pressure line leading therefrom, a valve casing inthe low pressure line formed with a high pressure chamber and a lowpressure chamber and a passage communicating with low pressure line andwith the low pressure chamber, a double acting pisa pressure equalizingeleton valve controlling the passage provided with a head moving in thehigh pressure chamber, and a head moving in the low pressure chamber,said valve easing having a channel affording communication between thepassage and the low pressure chamber, a by-pass leading from the highpressure main to the high pressure chamber of the valve casing, apressure equalizer spring in 10 the low pressure chamber bearing againstthe head of the piston therein, and a twoway valve controlling a drainor relief port for the high pressure chamber.

In testimony whereof, we allix our signatures, in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY G. TURNER. GEORGE WV. l-IAMM. \Vitnesses JAMES RUSSELL, HARRY O.'lunmnoe.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C.

